The Irish standard., 1887-06-04
REV. FATHER PATRICK D0WD
The Venerable Pastor of st. Patrick's
Church, Montreal, Celebrates
His Golden Jubilee.
THE LIFE OE THIS GOOD MAN

THE LIFE OE THIS GOOD MAN
And the Esteem in Which He is Held by
the Catholics and Protestants
of Montreal.
There is, perhaps, no man in Mon
treal or throughout Canada who is bet
ter known and esteemed by all classes,
irrespective of creed or nationality,
than the venerable pastor of st. Pat
rick's, Rev. Father Patrick Dowd, says
the Montreal True Witness. His long
residence in Montreal and his innumer-
able works of charity in the cause of re-
ligi0n have resulted in his name being
so closely interviewer with the history
of the country that it is not surprising
that the announcement of the OCCUR
renee of the 50th anniversary of his ele-
walton to the priesthood should give rise
to such widespread feelings of con-
graduation, and occasion the donation
to him of so many tributes of respect
from all classes of the community, both
lay and clerical, Protestant and Catho-
lie. The Reverend Patrick Dowd was
born in 1918, Of respectable and we'll
to-do parents, at the inland village Of
Dunleer, County Louth, Ireland, and is
consequently seventy.four years of age.
From his earliest childhood he was re-
markable for his piety, and his heart
continually burned with an ardent de-
sire to give his life up IN the service of
God. His good parents were not slow
in noticing this, and Immediately sent
him to pursue his classical studies at
Newry college, after which the young
ecclesiastic was sent to study theology
in the Irish college at Paris. In 1887 he
saw his fondest hopes realized and was
ordained priest by the Archbishop OF
Paris, Monsiegneur Quelen.
The young priest returned to his na.
tive land soon after his ordination, and
pursued his priestly functions for ten
years in different sections of the
country. In 1847 he joined the illustri-
GUS order of St. Sulpice, of which he is
to-day one of it's most esteemed mem
bers, and in 1848 he bade an afectionate
farewell to the green hills of his beloved
Ireland and set sail for distant Canada.
After a long passage Father Dowd
| 1on1o1 II, Monfroo1 a voru small %o1ux,
at that remote date, and Immediately
after entered upon his ministerial du-
ties in connection with St. Patrick's S
Church. For nearly forty years this
distinguished clergyman has been work
ing assiduously for the spiritual and
temporal welfare of the people of St..
Patrick's parish, as we'll as for the Irish
citizens in general throughout the city,
who have known him so long and so
we'll.
The year after his arrival in this
country Father Dowd founded the St.
Patrick's Orphan Asylum, WEIGH is to-
day splendid monument to the untir-
ing devotion and charitable instincts of
the aged priest. St. Bridget's Home
and the Night Refuge on Lagauchetiere
street, built in 1866 81, and the hand
some building known as the st. Pat
rick's School. Such are the buildings
which owe there inception to the man
whom his adn4iring countrymen have
more than once designated Montreal's s
Irish Bishop.
Father Dowd has Eeen repeatedly Of
fered the highest dignities of the
church, but has always declined them,
preferring to remain with his St. Pat
rick's congregation rather than wear
the mitre-the Sees of Kingston and
Toronto having been offered to him.
In 1877 he organized the great Irish
pilgrimage to Lourdes and Rome, and
everyone can recollect the painful anxi-
ETY. that was felt when the vessel carry
ing the pilgrims and their beloved pas
tor was not heard of for several agon-
izing weeks. Prayers were offered in
all churches without distinction Of
creed, pleasing proof of the high ap
probation in which the esteemed pastor
is held by even those disbelieving in
Catholicism. Father Dowd has more
than once earned for himself the graft
tude of his fellow citizens by the loyal
stand he has taken when the law of the
land was menaced or when constituted
authority was set at defiance, and the
grandeur of his jubilee celebration was
a fitting testimonial of the esteem in
which he is held.
On Thursday, May II, the Rev.
Fathers Jubilee was celebrated in the
city of Montreal. The festivities were
participated in by both Catholics and
Protestants. The following poem in
honor of Father Dowd, written for
the occasion by Miss Anna T. Sadlier,
the gifted daughter of his lifelong
friend, the distinguished Irish Cana
dian lady literateur, Mrs. Sadlier, was.
recited by Mr.. 2. McC cCaffrey:
s# FIFTY YEARS IN THE MAsTER's VINEYARD.